Black Powder Cleaning

[CovertGunny]

Decided to expand my gun collection with a CVA muzzleloader with bergara SS barrel for something different. I've been trying to read up on cleaning these things, but no real legit literature in my opinion, as I'm not sure if I should be doing some of the same regiments I use with my benchrest kreiger barrel. I seen on CVA's website a video and they were cleaning muzzle to bore....I've always been taught this is a no no.

What solvents should I be using? Can I use same stuff I normally would, sweets, boretech, etc.
Any extra steps I should be taking, it looks like a lot of them use some type of lubricant down the barrel? I've been sold on Fireclean lately as my last step, and clean up has been nil with it not sure if that would be the same.

 

[Screamineagle]

I clean my BP's in the kitchen sink, with a little dawn dish soap. Pisses the wife off, but works great. Don't forget to oil afterwards!
Steve

 

[357Mag]

Civert -

Howdy !


Take a look @ the castboolits webiste, black powder forums. Lots of good info, there.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[loneranger04]

I haven't shot black powder for many years but every time I pull one of my BP guns out and check them they are just as squeaky clean as the day I put them away. My method was to use the blue windshield cleaner poured into the barrel with a cap on the nipple and let it set for a few minutes. Then run patches through the chamber and barrels until dry then WD 40 sprayed in the barrel followed by patches to soak up the excess. I've never had a problem with rust.

 

[M14AMU]

Why many opt for BREECH LOADERS!

Way easier to clean and accurate!!

Parlorguns by Rick Mulhern, on Flickr

 

[watercam]

By now I am sure you see that black powder uses water-based cleaners as BP is hydrophilic. Same with the various substitute powders I am aware of. If you can remove the breech plug, by all means clean breech to muzzle. Many do not have that luxury and can only be cleaned from the muzzle. But with a .50" hole and wooden or synthetic rods muzzle damage is not a problem. Just don't use steel cleaning accessories.
Have fun! I have a reproduction Hawkin with a Green Mountain barrel that easily shoots 1moa @ 100 yds.. Finding the load is the trick - prepare to try a lot of bullet types and powder charge weights.

 

[savagedasher]

Windex Larry

 

[CADDIE5]

We use blackhorn 209 powder.much cleaner better results. Montana cleaning solvent for blackhorn. Soak nipple in solution for a day. Looks like new when done. Blackhorn can be shot dozen times before barrel needs to be swabbed. Blackhorn 209 website has FAQ about cleaning.

 

[CaptainMal]

You allude but don't really say you are using BLACK POWDER.

If that's what you want to clean, use soapy, warm water. Oil when finished.

If you are using a BlACK POWDER SUBSTITUTE, such as Pyrodex or Blackthorn 209 ( the best), use what that substitute recommends. I use regular smokeless powder cleaners, like Hoppes #9, for my Blackthorn 209.

 

[CADDIE5]

CVA makes a cleaning kit-at cabelas etc. Used to use this but deer season had cold weather and cva solution gelled in the cold-hard to push rod down. Try harvester muzzleloading scorpion gold bullets. Ron will answer your questions and ask some. What sabots and sleeves. If your present bullets/sabots are Hard to push down barrel. Just like ATC find the bullet combo barrel likes.

 

[XTR]

powder fouling, water, if you are feeling ambitious at drop of Dawn.

If you are getting leading, that is another issue, bronze brush and Shooters Choice lead remover.

With Triple 7 I use Hoppes

 

[NorCalMikie]

Warm soapy water. (smells like sewer water) Lots of WD 40 after to get rid on the moisture. Lots of oil afterwords.

 

[Outrider27]

What others have said above - lots of soapy water. Not sure why so many of us have settled on Dawn dish soap.

Also as others have suggested, breech to muzzle if you can remove the breech plug; if all you can remove is the nipple, muzzle to breech is fine, as it is not difficult to avoid bore contact with a .45 or .50 caliber muzzle, and you can use a regular cleaning rod with a cone shaped brass or nylon centering guide. We use warm soapy water in a bucket and used the cleaning rod and relatively tight fitting patch like a reciprocating pump to pump copious quantities of the soapy water through with the breech submerged in the bucket and the nipple removed. With the breech plug removed we do the same thing, but submerge the muzzle in the bucket. Lots of water, dry well, then lots of WD40 and then oil well for storage.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

I do the same as above except i use HOT water in a coffee can poured in the muzzle out of a percolator heated on the stove. Suck it back up in there with the rod leaving the nipple in place. Then remove it to clean the outside. The hot hot water evaporates fast then when cool i bore butter it. Main thing ive found is only using natural products such as bore butter for lube and protection and make sure no petroleum is ever introduced. I have a tc hawken and renegade and both could pass for new but used every year since the very early 80's. Use real black powder and cast my own maxi balls lubed with bore butter. Bore butter has directions on doing this. I also have a tc encore always shot with pyrodex and the same with no petroleum.

 

[Lapua40X]

You can fill a bucket with hot soapy water, drop the muzzle in the bottom (breach plug removed) and pump a rod with a patch on it up and down the barrel. Reverse the barrel and repeat from the other end. Rinse, dry thoroughly, and lubricate. Works just fine. The patch running up and down the barrel acts like a water pump plunger.
Obviously, this isn't the best way to clean a breach loader.

 

[timeout]

You can fill a bucket with hot soapy water, drop the muzzle in the bottom (breach plug removed) and pump a rod with a patch on it up and down the barrel. Reverse the barrel and repeat from the other end. Rinse, dry thoroughly, and lubricate. Works just fine. The patch running up and down the barrel acts like a water pump plunger.

This ^^^^ The key is HOT soapy water. Wrap a small towel around the barrel to keep your hand from burning. Keep drawing the water up with the pump action until the barrel is hot all the way to the top. Let the barrel stand upright in a corner for awhile. The hot barrel will cause the water inside the barrel to quickly evaporate. Run a LIGHTLY oiled patch down the barrel, followed by a dry patch. Rust and misfires will not be a problem. Many years ago I practiced nearly daily during the summer with a muzzle loader using black powder. Also deer hunted with the same combo. I did the hot water cleanup procedure on the kitchen stove. My wife will no longer allow the kitchen for aforementioned procedure ;D It does produce a highly offensive odor!

 

[M14AMU]

You can fill a bucket with hot soapy water, drop the muzzle in the bottom (breach plug removed) and pump a rod with a patch on it up and down the barrel. Reverse the barrel and repeat from the other end. Rinse, dry thoroughly, and lubricate. Works just fine. The patch running up and down the barrel acts like a water pump plunger.

And THAT my friends is what turns folks OFF on shooting blackpowder!! : :

 

[Barlow]

I use the HOT water routine. I used to lube barrel with butter bore but WD40 works well but Ballistol is imo better. Check out Precision Shooter website, those guys know black powder inside and out. Barlow

 

[savagedasher]

I have tried all different ways. I have a friend that has and still does shoot Black powder . The only thing he has in his box for cleaning is blue bottle of Windex. He hold over 20 would records. Normal 5 patches and my gun is spotless . If I shoot sabot I have to brush. When I'm going to leave the gun for some time. I still clean every thing with Windex but oil it. Larry

 

[rvn1968]

I have another hobby,sailing.We learn that Dawn works in hot or cold,fresh or salt water. A good fresh water rinse and a good oil coating or WD-40,done.